My Democratic colleagues and I are working hard to extend this financial relief for the young Americans who most need it. In order to keep interest rates at 3.4 percent, House Democrats have proposed the Stop the Rate Hike Act of 2012, which ends unwarranted tax subsidies to big oil and gas companies. Republicans have different priorities. They are trying to eliminate student aid by proposing that average and low-income American families pay for it out of their health care. The Republican bill slashes funding for breast and cervical cancer screenings for women, and strips funding for child immunization and screening tests for newborns. They want to make Democrats choose between the vital health care needs of Americans and financial assistance for students. It is clear that Republicans are only interested in representing the interests of Big Oil and the wealthiest Americans. |